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WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

Donald Trump's Executive Order to End Birthright Citizenship

WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

The Wall Street Journal

Society & Culture, News

4.22.8K Ratings

🗓️ 22 January 2025

⏱️ 22 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

He says his administration won't issue documents to babies whose parents were present in the U.S. illegally, or legally on temporary visas. But 22 states sue, arguing this flies in the face of the 14th Amendment and long-standing Supreme Court precedent. Plus, 12 Democrats vote yes, as the Senate passes the Laken Riley Act to mandate detention of migrants arrested for certain crimes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

America's energy future begins now. More American oil and natural gas means more jobs, more security, and more innovation.

0:08.3

America's moment is now. Learn more at lights on energy.org. Paid for by the American Petroleum Institute.

0:17.3

From the opinion pages of the Wall Street Journal, this is Potomac Watch.

0:23.6

22 states sue over President Trump's executive order trying to end birthright citizenship in the United States.

0:31.1

Who's got the better of this constitutional argument?

0:34.5

Plus, Congress might be about to rouse itself to pass its own law on illegal immigration

0:38.8

after 12 Senate Democrats vote to advance the Lake and Riley Act. Welcome, I'm Kyle Peterson

0:45.9

with the Wall Street Journal. We are joined today by my colleagues, columnist Alicia Finley,

0:51.7

and editorial board member, Manayquay-Brua.

0:54.9

The 14th Amendment passed after the Civil War says in no uncertain terms, all persons born are naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States.

1:09.0

On Monday, President Trump signed an executive order pointing to that

1:12.8

limiting phrase subject to the jurisdiction thereof. And the policy of his new administration,

1:17.7

he says, is that if someone's parents are illegally in the United States or not permanent

1:24.4

residents, if they're here, for instance, on work visas or on student visas,

1:29.3

then his administration, no department or agency of the United States government, it says,

1:33.9

shall issue documents recognizing United States citizenship.

1:38.4

Let's start with Trump on Monday.

1:40.0

This is him signing this executive order.

1:42.3

Birthright.

1:43.7

That's a big one.

1:45.0

What about that one in the course?

1:47.0

That one is likely to be.

...

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